It could be a big boost for the booming local beer industry. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer announced his support of a tax cut for small breweries, which would help dozens of craft brew operations in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire.Using the WPTZ Mobile App? Click here for video from the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery. Christopher Erickson got a home brew kit as a college graduation gift.Seventeen years later, he owns the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery and is rubbing elbows with some of Washington's most powerful.“I never in a million years would have thought 20 years ago that I'd be doing a press conference with a senator and a congressman on excise tax relief for the United States craft brewing industry,” said Erickson.In Lake Placid, Schumer announced his support of a bill that would cut excise taxes for breweries in New York, Vermont and across the country.Excise taxes are fees on the beer a brewery produces. “It could mean about $200,000 in savings for each brewery on the first 60,000 barrels and the legislation doesn't stop there,” said Schumer.The tax breaks would apply to smaller breweries, ones that make less than 6 million barrels per year.Erickson says the tax cuts are a small investment in a relatively small industry compared to retail breweries, but the payoff will be big.“Right now I pay $7 for every 31 gallons of beer that I brew -- $7 a barrel. This legislation will bring it to $3.50,” said Erickson.The bill is also designed to promote tourism.“They're often accompanied by restaurants that increase tourism, increase income and increase jobs throughout the country,” said Schumer. That’s an idea that Erickson and his fellow brewers across the lake and around the country will raise a glass to.Vermont has one of the highest number of craft breweries per capita in the nation and New York has more than 130 breweries across the state.

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. —

It could be a big boost for the booming local beer industry. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer announced his support of a tax cut for small breweries, which would help dozens of craft brew operations in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire.

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Christopher Erickson got a home brew kit as a college graduation gift.

Seventeen years later, he owns the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery and is rubbing elbows with some of Washington's most powerful.

“I never in a million years would have thought 20 years ago that I'd be doing a press conference with a senator and a congressman on excise tax relief for the United States craft brewing industry,” said Erickson.

In Lake Placid, Schumer announced his support of a bill that would cut excise taxes for breweries in New York, Vermont and across the country.

Excise taxes are fees on the beer a brewery produces.

“It could mean about $200,000 in savings for each brewery on the first 60,000 barrels and the legislation doesn't stop there,” said Schumer.

The tax breaks would apply to smaller breweries, ones that make less than 6 million barrels per year.

Erickson says the tax cuts are a small investment in a relatively small industry compared to retail breweries, but the payoff will be big.

“Right now I pay $7 for every 31 gallons of beer that I brew -- $7 a barrel. This legislation will bring it to $3.50,” said Erickson.

The bill is also designed to promote tourism.

“They're often accompanied by restaurants that increase tourism, increase income and increase jobs throughout the country,” said Schumer.

That’s an idea that Erickson and his fellow brewers across the lake and around the country will raise a glass to.

Vermont has one of the highest number of craft breweries per capita in the nation and New York has more than 130 breweries across the state.